The Double Speak of Glenn Beck

On Saturday, Glenn Beck staged a good event on the Washington Mall. He left his hot headed political rhetoric for an appeal to put God first and bring honor and truth back to America. Being optimistic, I accepted the event as his way of saying that he is through with the slander and hate speech for which he is famous.

Honor and truth are EXACTLY what this country needs to bring healing and reconciliation between warring factions in both the political and spiritual life of our country. A significant part of the word honor means that you will speak in a way that gives honor to who you are. The word honor also presupposes that you will do your best to honor other people even as they have opinions with which you disagree. Truth is also a great word for society today. Both sides of the religious and political spectrum speak untruth to outright lies in order to sway public opinion. If we in America can HONOR one another and ourselves by telling the TRUTH instead of half truths, and blatant lies, then our country would be moving in the right direction.

However, I highly doubt that Glenn Beck will get us to the place of honor and truth. In the past honor has not been a word that fits Glenn Beck. Glenn Beck, himself, has used the word "clown" to define himself. Clowns tend to find honor somewhat meaningless. Getting center stage and a good laugh are the focus. Not only has Beck devalued honor, his show on Fox has been filled with distortions of the truth on a regular basis. He also believes his own personal opinion is the truth while other people's opinions are lies. So when Glenn Beck hosts an event to restore honor and reclaim truth, I assumed that he was experiencing a conversion of sorts (see my previous blog about Glenn Beck). I talked in church about the Restoring Honor in America Rally, hoping Glenn Beck was telling the truth when he said that his event was ordained by God.

Unfortunately, in listening to Glenn Beck since Saturday, I am disheartened to see that he is not able to seek honor in his own life less than 24 hours after his rally. On Sunday, Beck challenged Obama's Christianity. This accusation both dishonors Beck and maligns Obama genuine faith. In today's television show, Beck did focus on the need for a spiritual conversion of our country. However Beck spent more time self aggrandizing and pointing out that he was being attacked by both the main stream and liberal media. I agree that he was attacked by some media, but I thought he was going to rise to a higher level than they. I was wrong.

In worship on Sunday, I asked everyone to thoughtful listen to how theological terms are used in politics. Be open to learn but also cautious. The best way to protect ourselves from being misled is to read the bible, pray, and discuss with one another what we see in the news and in the media. By reading the bible we will be able to tell the truth from lies and have a deeper and more meaningful faith.

Hosea 4:6 (NIV) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

James 3:1-5 (NRSV) Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!

Ecological Catastrophe and the Uneasy Evangelical Conscience

Ecological Catastrophe and the Uneasy Evangelical Conscience

Please read this great article on the Oil Spill in the Gulf!

Prayer poem

"WORD- Madeleine L'Engle

I, who live by words, am wordless when
I try my words in prayer. All language turns
To silence. Prayer will take my words and then
Reveal their emptiness. The stifled voice learns
To hold its peace, to listen with the heart
To silence that is joy, is adoration.
The self is shattered, all words torn apart
In this strange patterned time of contemplation
That, in time, breaks time, breaks words, breaks me
And then, in silence, leaves me healed and mended.
I have returned to language, for I see
Through words, even when all words are ended,
I, who live by words, am wordless when
I turn me to the Word to pray.
Amen."

Pentecost Thoughts

Brian McLaren writes about Pentecost

On the grass-roots level, there are tens of thousands of Christians who aren't waiting for denominational leaders to fix things. They're just getting on with it. They're doing it, living it, making it real in their lives, in their neighborhoods, through small groups and mission trips and so on. When you have leaders at the top working for needed change, and people at the grass roots doing the same, and when you're confident that the Holy Spirit is behind it all, eventually the tide will turn and a new day will come.

The Holy Spirit has power to move in ways we cannot comprehend. Be ready for the mystery and miracle of Pentecost!

The spiritual discipline of giving

Mollie Ziegler Hemingway wrote a great article about church giving as a spiritual discipline.

Click here to get it. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704671904575193933487214328.html

Christian Environmentalism

The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world and all that live in it. Psalm 24:1

The earth is not ours, it is the Lord's. Human needs and interests are not the focus of the Christian life, but rather, praising God and loving God are the focus of the Christian life. Unfortunately, we forget to put God first, all too often, as humans and as Christians. This Earth Day, I hope we all see that God did not create forests, rivers, fish and animals as resources exclusively for humans to use as we see fit. Whether overfishing, or polluting waters, or using fossil fuels the question arises, "how are my choices showing my thankfulness that God has created this beautiful planet in which I dwell?"

As sincere Christians, let us join together and care about our planet and all the living creatures that God has made. Today human activity threatens the extinction of a growing number of plants and animals. Often economics are brought into the argument around what to do. "Save Jobs Not Owls". Then tree huggers talk about the sacredness of all life, as if each plant and animal is worthy of worship. Maybe now is the time for a Christian voice that reminds us that every species of every living thing was created by God and God called all of creation GOOD. Let Christians do our part to keep all of God's creation vibrant and thriving so that our children can see it and call God's creation good.

Holy Wednesday

Holy Week is unlike any other week in the Church's year. It begins with the illusory triumph of Palm Sunday, when Jesus is hailed as a celebrity in his own city of Jerusalem. It leads through the betrayal of Judas (remembered on 'Spy Wednesday'), and the farewells of Thursday (called 'Maundy Thursday' after the Mandatum, the command to love one another), the humiliations, tortures and death on Good Friday, to the victory over death on Resurrection Morning. Nearly every human life will include some of those experiences. This week we can identify with the Lord each step of the way from the Mount of Olives to Calvary. When it comes to the resurrection, the imagination boggles, yet it is the centre of our faith.

Matthew 26:14-25

Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What will you give me if I betray him to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'" So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?" He answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born." Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He replied, "You have said so."

What feelings arise in you as you read this passage: anger, disgust, sadness?

What would you want to say to Judas if you knew what he was doing? Jesus did know, yet he treated Judas gently. He did not try to stop Judas.

How does Jesus look at you when you betray the love of Jesus? What do you want to say to him when you ponder this story of Judas?

This week is the most difficult of all the weeks for Christians. We are guided to ask ourselves hard questions that fly in the face of conventional wisdom. Open your hearts to God during this week. Seek guidance from our savior and find out what unconditional love is all about.

U2 40 (Psalm 40)

Today is Oscar Romero Day

30 years ago today Oscar Romero was assassinated while leading a communion service in his country, El Salvador. He took a strong stance for social justice and asked the dictator of the country and the army to stop killing the poor indiscriminately. In the midst of enormous disparity of wealth between rich and poor he said, ""When the church hears the cry of the oppressed it cannot but denounce the social structures that give rise to and perpetuate the misery from which the cry arises (8/6/78)." When Marxist rebels thought he was backing their war he wrote,

"There can be no true liberation until people are freed from sin. All the liberationist groups that spring up in our land should bear this in mind. The first liberation to be proposed by a political group that truly wants the people's liberation must be to free oneself from sin. While one is a slave of sin – of selfishness, violence, cruelty, and hatred – one is not fitted for the people's liberation."

MARCH 2, 1980

As we approach Holy Week, may we heed Romero's call to seek the forgiveness of sins that comes from Jesus. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will free us from sins that overpower our human weakness. May God free us all.

Glenn Beck Attacks Christian Core Value

A few weeks ago the conservative, fireball Glenn Beck urged his listeners to leave churches that use the words "social justice" or "economic justice". He said,

"I beg you, look for the words "social justice" or "economic justice" on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. Now, am I advising people to leave their church? Yes! . . . Social justice and economic justice. . . believes man can be perfected. That is what the Marxists believe." (to hear excerpt go to

I know that Glenn Beck is an entertainer and not a theologian, but his rant linking social justice, churches, and Marxism has me feeling the need to be a Sunday school teacher.

The PCUSA has a strong belief in social and economic justice, but not because we are Marxists. Social and economic justice had its beginnings in the bible. God tells us to care for widows and orphans in over 60 verses, and the poor and oppressed in over 40 verses. God does not just ask us to offer personal charity, but rather, to create systemic justice on a national scale. The book of Amos is God telling the people of Israel to eliminate the gross divide between rich and poor and seek justice on a national level. God called Israel to redistribute its wealth long before Karl Marx was born. Glenn Beck calls that communism, God calls it justice.

Recent Christian leaders who fought for social justice because it was a biblical mandate include:

• Isaac Watts – writer of "Amazing Grace" fought to end the slave trade
  
• Evangelical Protestants (that's us) – created free public high schools paid for by tax dollars and churches in the 1870's
  
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Lutheran pastor and theologian opposed Nazism and was killed after writing theology that required Christians to live out social justice
  
• Martin Luther King – Forced our country to change laws that denied equality for minorities in the 1950's and 1960's
  
• Oscar Romero – Archbishop of El Salvador who was assassinated when he kept asking the dictator and army to read the bible and seek justice rather than seek power and wealth. (Romero is one of my greatest heroes. Even though he was Catholic, his theology is similar to our reformed theology).
  

Glenn Beck and other shock jocks on the right and left often speak without understanding issues. However, churches will continue to prayerfully and intellectually use scripture to bring social justice into our world today. But beware of Glenn Beck and others who allow their political ideologies to take precedence over God's word.

From Empty to Full

What do you get when you mix 200 Presbyterian ministers and elders with Robert's Rules of Order? Inspired. Well . . . last night's presbytery meeting had moments of boredom, but it also had spiritual inspiration. Jonathan Hoeldtke of Woodstown Presbyterian Church spoke about a Prayer room his church has created. It has a map with pins where missionaries that they support live. The bible and other spiritual reading material are also in the room, as well as a journal to write about your prayer experience. They have had 24 hour prayer vigils where an individual will sign up to be praying in the prayer room for an hour.

AN HOUR OF PRAYER!!

 

Rev. Hoeldke told of a woman that went into the prayer room overwhelmed and empty. She had no idea what to expect and felt a little worried about praying for an hour. She started by praying for their missions and thank God for her own blessings. Anxiety began to melt away. Then she began to listen to what God was saying to her. By the end of the hour, she wrote in the prayer journal that this was one of the most fulfilling and healing experiences she has ever had.

Try praying, not for 10 minutes, but an entire hour. Don't merely speak, but listen. How are you changed afterward?

Lost and Found

One Great Hour of Sharing

U2 Eucharist

Bono, the Edge, the band U2. A surprising number of their songs have Christian themes. So many of their songs are spiritual that some churches have done communion services using the music of U2 and the words of Bono. One of U2's songs is named "40" and is a version of Psalm 40 put to music. In another song titled, "Yahweh" the lyrics go,

Take these hands
Teach them what to carry
Take these hands
Don't make a fist no
Take this mouth
So quick to critisize
Take this mouth
Give it a kiss

Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, Yahweh
Still I'm waiting for the dawn

People who never set foot in a church sing U2 songs that are overflowing with Christian meaning. This week pray about how we can reach out to people of all different stripes. People you never expect to think about God are praying for guidance into a church. Maybe ours the one on which they wait.

U2 Commion Service

Women of Faith

Sunday, March 7^th we are celebrating the gifts of women. So let me introduce you to a two women who will make their presence known in worship.

First is Fanny Crosby, who wrote over 8,000 hymns. I can barely crank out a sermon a week, and she once wrote 8 hymns in one day! Blinded as an infant she had several strong women in her life help her become one of the most prolific hymn writers of all time. Fanny's hymns include:

• Blessed Assurance
  
• Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior
  
• I Am Thine, O Lord
  

You can read a brief and inspiring biography at http://www.eaec.org/faithhallfame/fanny_crosby.htm

The second woman who has written great hymns is Twila Paris. She wrote the song "We Bow Down", which we will be singing this Sunday, and many other songs. Unlike Fanny, who wrote about 100 years ago, Twila is still singing today and helps young and old alike connect with our Savior through song. You can read her biography at http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608003440/Twila-Paris.html

There are countless women in leadership positions in churches, companies, and government using their faith in the Lord to make this world a better place. The next time you pray give thanks for the women in your life that have impacted you!

Sacred Space for Prayer and Meditation

In the links section of the church's website is a great website for prayer and meditation. It is www.sacredspace.ie

Below is the prayer and meditation for today. May you seek and find Christ's presence in your life today!

The Presence of God

Dear Jesus, I come to you today
longing for your presence.
I desire to love you as You love me.
May nothing ever separate me from You.

Freedom

Lord, grant me the grace to be free from the excesses of this life.
Let me not get caught up with the desire for wealth.
Keep my heart and mind free to love and serve you.

Consciousness

Help me Lord to be more conscious of your presence. Teach me to recognise your presence in others. Fill my heart with gratitude for the times Your love has been shown to me through the care of others.

The Word

Luke 11:29-32

When the crowds were increasing, Jesus began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!"

What are you saying to me, Lord?

Some thoughts on today's scripture

• Jesus sees that the people looked for great signs of God's presence and action and missed noticing that God's spirit was among them. I acknowledge that I too am often easily distracted and take note of where I might attend to God's presence.
  
• Where have I often found consolation and encouragement? Do I value the nourishment that may be available?
  

Conversation

Jesus, you always welcomed little children when you walked on this earth. Teach me to have a childlike trust in you. To live in the knowledge that you will never abandon me.

Conclusion

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen

Discernment:

click on the link below titled discernment and read about discerning God's will for your life. I found this helpful in focusing on how God fits into our decision making. The article is connected to the PCUSA website and is written by Kris Haig, who is, or was, in the Office of Spiritual Formation for the denomination.

Discernment:

Getting Angry with God

… the essentials of prayer are set in the mind

and heart, or rather that prayer itself is

properly an emotion of the heart within,

which is poured out and laid open before

God, the searcher of hearts.

John Calvin The Institutes III.20.29

 

An intimate relationship with God includes pouring out all emotions before God. Some of the most difficult prayers are when we feel abandoned by God. Yet, that may be the exact time that our relationship with God becomes the deepest. However that depth comes when we actually bring our doubts, resentments, and loneliness before God. That is no easy task. Most of us like to avoid dealing with negative feelings with people and that avoidance is no different when the negative feelings are with God.

 

This is where the bible can be helpful. It reminds us that feeling abandoned or hurt by God is not new, and it is not automatically sinful or harmful. Psalm 13 is short and shows how being honest to God with our anger or anguish helps to move us back into a relationship of trust. Read Psalm 13 when you get a chance.

 

Whatever you are feeling towards God, share in prayer. Your honesty and authenticity will help deepen your faith and relationship with the God of love who accepts you regardless of your emotions.

 

Snow Daze

Any shovelers with lower back soreness? Sometimes that is how life feels. Troubles and worries come floating down like snow and we have to dig out. There are different ways of dealing with our troubles. One is to go out by ourselves and have no help. When we have dug out of our troubles we can pat ourselves on the back for a job well done go back in the house or head out for work. Sometimes I go out shoveling when all my neighbors are out. We nod at each other and occasionally joke about the snow or tell snow stories from the past. Being out there together is lightens the load. On rare occasions we will not shovel our own area alone, but team up. We each do what we can at the pace we can. When the job is done we feel like teammates that defeated a tough enemy. For a few minutes we move from being acquaintances into being friends.

How do you deal with your "snow"? Sharing our troubles with one another is a part of being Christian. I hope each of us as a few people to go to when it really starts snowing. Let me know if there is any "shoveling" I can help out with.

Peace,

Pastor Keith

It's A Start

After searching various church websites I concluded that ours needed to be more dynamic. So here is my start at blogging.

Faith is an act of a finite being who is grasped by, and turned to, the infinite. - theologian Paul Tillich

Peace, Keith